/ world today news/ The violinist Vesco Panteleev Eshkenazi is considering founding an organization that would improve the wages of musicians in classical music and artists in general in Bulgaria. His idea is still in its infancy, but his intentions are serious. Vesco works as the concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, however, he is currently in Cape Town, South Africa, where he will have a concert conducted by his brother Martin Panteleev. We talk on Skype about Vesco Eshkenazi’s plans to engage in community service.
– You became the initiator of a heated discussion on the Internet about the problems of performers in classical music in our country. Do you intend to pursue this case, or were your words merely an expression of outrage, Mr. Eshkenazi?
– I was quite wondering if anyone would get involved in the topic, because artists are afraid to talk about being ultra-low paid, they are also afraid to ask their employers for higher pay. However, the comments under this discussion were quite heated, people with good ideas appeared, some voice was heard.
The truth is that I have been considering whether to tackle this problem for a long time. I still can’t find the exact wording of why exactly I should take action to help my colleagues. I’m worried that they won’t think: “But now he wants to take some power, get something…”
– Is there an option to start a project or a union to defend the rights of your colleagues in Bulgaria?
– There are options, but for a union – no, this is a very heavy organization. When I inquired, I found out that it takes over 50,000 signatures, members of one type, to pass through the National Assembly… it’s complicated. Rather, I think we should do a citizen’s initiative – first of all to raise the public’s attention to what it happens in culture because it is the engine of society. And from there on to help her in the individual units. I would look for mechanisms to encourage employers of musicians not to exploit them for token sums, to have a minimum wage below which they do not fall…
But I haven’t made a final decision on whether to take it up yet. I will judge when I return to Bulgaria and meet figures from the other arts to consult what can be done at all. Because I wish that this movement is not only in support of musicians, but of artists in general. To become something like a United Front of Culture.
– Isn’t the idea of drawing the public’s attention to the problems of culture too late, it is stuck up to its neck in slang, television and junk?
– Right now is the time to do something to make our country look different. Our politicians should start thinking differently about us because we have many wonderful musicians, actors, writers. Bulgaria has thought and art that should be appreciated.
– How do you intend to wake up your colleagues who have been sleeping for years in a deep winter sleep regarding their problems and those of society? Everyone saves themselves individually, minding their own business. How will you unite creators who hate each other, envy each other, intrigue?
– That’s part of the problem, so I can’t make up my mind yet. I would not like this organization to become an end in itself. My only wish is that people believe in themselves and that if they are together they will achieve more – both for themselves and for society. If they realize that this is the purpose of the class, then I will have done something. However, if it starts with intrigues, with accusations that I want to get my hands on some management position, I would rather give up. My goal is different. The government and the president themselves should demand to know what is happening in the cultural circles – as it is in other civilized countries.
– Culture was the driving force of society in more renaissance times. Great artists such as Hristo Botev, Lyuben Karavelov, Geo Milev, Peyo Yavorov participated in national liberation struggles, sacrificed everything in the name of some common goal. Where do you see personalities in Bulgarian culture today who would sacrifice at least personal time for common affairs?
– I wouldn’t like to compare myself to the personalities you listed, as I don’t know if they even exist nowadays, but I would like to find like-minded people. I really hope we can gather people who can give of their own time to help. I would gladly do it.
– How would your organization differ from creative unions in Bulgaria? I take it you won’t be trading properties like the Writers’ Union right now?
– Our movement will not be related to business, I do not want to manage any money and have commitments with property. I will deal with this absolutely free of charge. My first condition is that I don’t get any monetary benefit from it, because if you get into the schemes, you become one of the mafia in the culture. I realize how idealistic what I’m saying is, but it’s not impossible for me to happen. There will probably be people who will tell me: “This can’t be done!” Yes, it won’t be easy, but I am most ambitious when they tell me “It won’t happen”.
– What will your strategy be?
– I don’t think the way is through confrontation between the two sides – between producers and performers. They should sit together and come to a reasonable decision. It is in their interest – both for one and for the other. But in no case can the organizers continue to earn well and the performers be left on minimal rations.
– What are the limits of these “rations”, what amounts are we talking about?
– The fees are exceptionally low for the living conditions in Bulgaria. One hour of a classical musician is estimated somewhere around 20 – 25 BGN. His participation in a concert costs 120 – 150 BGN. We are talking about Sofia, in the country the pay is even more tragic. These are the lowest prices in the world! And the standard of the Bulgarian musician is very good. He puts in tens of years of work, gives huge money for instruments, bow, strings, insurances… which cannot be paid so humiliatingly low. This is begging!
– How much should the musicians’ pay be increased?
– The increase cannot happen suddenly, but gradually, so that there are no dissatisfied people. Every year there should be an indexation and one day the payment for a concert should become BGN 200 per musician in an orchestra and BGN 50-60 per hour of recording. The salaries of the musicians also need to be raised gradually to reach some decent amounts. We are talking about a normal level, not about any riches. At the moment, the salary of a musician in an orchestra is about BGN 600. But I think that a salary below BGN 1,000 is absurd, it is not something serious. These are people who need to feed themselves and their families, they have loans. You cannot compare the work of a musician with that of a person who has working hours from 9 am to 5 pm and studies for this for 5 years. We started playing at the age of 5, studied 12 classes at a Music School, then another 4 years at an Academy, followed by another 2 years of specialization. So a total of 18 years of training! There is no profession that takes so long to master. Even medicine is taught shorter.
– With the intention of raising the musicians’ fees, aren’t you throwing stones in the garden of your cousins - Maxim and Hari Eshkenazi organize the festival “Fortissimo” and will have to increase their expenses?
– The truth is that in “Fortissimo” the pay is far higher than the average in Bulgaria. This is an example of how the work of musicians can be appreciated. My colleagues will confirm that. If all producers and concert organizers could follow this path, that would be great.
– The Ministry of Culture has many tools to influence the authorities, but why is it not the best advocate for artists in Bulgaria?
– Because, I guess, they can’t do what we want, they don’t have a budget and they don’t manage to demand it from the government. I don’t want to criticize them because I’m not familiar with exactly what they do and what they can’t do. I think that a person must be found who will be able to convince the rulers that the musician class is at the bottom of everything in Bulgaria. We go on stage with a tailcoat, a tuxedo, a bow tie, an expensive instrument, and our pay is at the social minimum! We must contact the rulers directly, it is not necessary through the intermediary Ministry of Culture, they are not the only lever of influence.
– How will you do it – with scandals, with threats, because our politicians seem to understand a word only in this way?
– We have to do it in a very civilized way with people who have proven themselves not only in our country, but also at the international level. Let some people not be angry with me, but we must instill respect in those in power. I would invite, for example, Yildiz Ibrahimova, Alexander Morfov, Vasko Vasilev… I wouldn’t say: “I know how it will turn out and there won’t be any problem. It will be done in 1-2 years”. No, it won’t happen right away. But you have to start somewhere.
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